graduating soon!!

[lwa03le]

Hi, I am a third year law student hoping to graduate from sheffield next summer. I expect to get a 2.1 and I did a summer placement at Herbert Smith over the summer. The problem is I didn't have a chance to submit many application forms for training contracts and as a result was not able to secure one for after an LPC. Worse than that, there is no way I would be able to afford the LPC off my own back and am left in a bit of a quandry about what to do next year. Should I take a year out and apply to all the firms I can in the hope of getting a training contract and payment of LPC fees? OR Should I start work, and if so what would be the best job to do with a law degree and a desire to be a solicitor at some stage?  

[Aschenbach]

Ideally you'd get a firm to pay your fees but I'd say do the LPC next year anyway.

I got my training contract after my LPC had started and this was not uncommon. A 2:1 and experience will give you a great chance. You've got a while in any case.

You can get a 'professional course' bank loan for fees which isn't payable for four years or so if you don't get them paid for you.

I think all firms pay for their trainees' Professional Skills Courses.

[january_bug]

I'd say to apply again next year - get in early before the deadlines.

You know by now of course that a blanket approach is not the best one. Use Chambers (the big one, not the student one) to cehck out the firms that you will like the most (and who will like you the most)/

If you are good enough to get into a London firm (I'm on my 3rd year of trying after my LLB at Manchester and LLM at Hamburg and Manchester, by the way!!!) then you don't need to be paying out over �9000 yourself, on top of the debt from the LLB. Remember that firms do NOT pay fees retrospectively!!

Use the year to go travelling, or to gain commercial experience. Either way, you need to have a plan. Your finals are going to be VERY hard work, so start thinking about forms after the January exams. Take all the careers advice you can get from Sheffs Careers - I'm sure it's very good!

Oh yeah, I'm on an enforced gap year at the mo. As I write I'm at work.. a secretary and legal assistant at a small law firm near where I live. I would say to do ANYTHING that gets you nearer to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow... commerical awareness!! :-)

Good luck!